Honey frame cleaning machine



Oct. 4, c V E 1,881,354

HONEY FRAME CLEANING MACHINE Filed Dec. 3, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l 1 FIELE.

Oct. 4, c l, EVERETT HONEY FRAME CLEANING MACHINE Filed Dec. 3, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIB B 34 29 3/ Oct.- 4, 1932. c. EVERETT HO NEY FRAME CLEANING MACHINE Filed Dec. 3, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 gmwwtoz Patented Oct. 4, 1932 PATENT Fries CHARLES I. EVERETT, or WELLINGTON,VLNEVADA HONEY FRAME CLEANING MACHINE Application filed December 3,1930. Serial No. 499,814.

This invention relates to a machine for cleaning honeycomb sections, that is to say, a device for removingthe propo-lis and Wax which accumulates upon the boxes or frames of the honeycomb sections while they are in the hive, and thus clean them so that they may be in marketable condition.

The object of the invention is toprovide a device or apparatus of the character re- 1 ferred to in which'the propolis and Wax are removed from all four sides and the top and bottom edges of the boxes or frames of the sections in a single operation. The invention consists in a cleaning machine, comprising a frame in which are mounted scraping devices adaptedto engage.

f toand overlymg the skids or ways 3 and with the sides and top and bottom edges 0 the boxes or frames of the honeycomb sec- .tions, and in a feeding device or conveyor by which the sections may be conveyed through the machine so that the scraping devices may scrape over all of the sides and top and bottom edges of the boxes or frames to remove from them the propolis and wax, as. I will proceed now to explain more fully and finally claim.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention, in the several figures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a machine embodying the features of my invention, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan taken substantially on r the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on the line l-4.- of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view, in elevation, of the end of the machine into which the honeycomb sections are introduced. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing the end of the machine from which the sections are discharged in a cleaned condition. Fig. 7 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the scraper units for scraping the sides of the sections, and Fig. 8 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 9 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the'scraper units for scraping the top and bottom edges of'the sections, and Fig. 10 is a plan view thereof. The machine has a. base frame, preferably of L shape, each of the legs A and B of which comprises longitudinal side members 1 and transverse members or spacers 2. Arranged uponthe members 2 are longitudinal skids or ways 3 for supporting'the honeycomb sections as they are transported through the machine. Suitably supported at proper predetermined intervals along the 1ongitudina-l frame members 1 at both sides of the legs A. and Bof the base frame to form a bridge frame thereo-ver are uprights 4t joined at their tops by cross members 5 whichspan the legs A and B. The uprights 4: are provided with vertical guides 6 between which are slidably positioned the ends of cross bear- 1ng members 7 to which latter are attached longitudinal skids or ways 8 complemental adapted to resiliently press against the boxes or frames of the, honeycomb sections a (see Figs. 5 and 6) under the influence of spring members 9 and 10 which bear against them and against the cross members 5.

Arranged in transverse spaced relation between the uprights 4, and resiliently supported relatively thereto by means of bolts 11 and springs 12 are scraper units for scraping the sides of theboxes or frames of the sections. These scraper units are illustrated in detail in Figs. 7 and 8, and comprise base members 13 to which the bolts 11 are rigidly attached and from which they'offstand, and appropriately spaced scraper knives 14 arranged at a suitable scraping angle relatively to the direction of movement of the sections through the machine, and held in place in spaced relation by blocks 15 attached by screws or the like 16 to'the base members 13.. Owing to the fact that the sides of the boxes or frames of thesections are not always of uniform flatness or contour, it is desirable to so construct and arrange these scraper units that they will compensate for surface variations in the sides of the sections. This is accomplished by providing two sets of juxtaposed scraper units, as indicated at b and c in Figs. 3 and 4;, one set of which has its scraper knives terminating short of the upper edges of the base members 13, as shown in Fig. 7 and the other set of which has its scraper knives terminating. short of the bot- 35! members 19 may be held in such relative arframes.

tom edges of the base members 13. Thus, as the frames pass along between the sets of scrapers, b, b and 0, 0, first the lower portions and then the upper portions of their sides will be cleaned and, if surface variations occur, it will be apparent that by thus scraping them the cleaning action will be much more thorough than if the scraper blades were all of such extent as to contact with the full height of the sides of the frames. The bolts 11 are arranged centrally of the height of the scraper knives of the respective-units and pass freely through the uprights 4 and are forced inwardly against the honeycomb sections by the springs 12, and thus the scraper knives are forced yieldingly and with uniform pressure against those portions of the honeycomb sections with which they come in operative scraping engagement. Movement of the scraper units toward each other under the influence of their springs 11 is limited by nuts 11 applied to the ends of the bolts 11 and adjustable thereon to appropriately vary this relative movement'when desired.

For scraping the top and bottom edges of the boxes or frames of the honeycomb sections the scraper units illustrated in detail in Figs. 9 and 10 are employed. These units comprise base members 17 to which are attached, by suitable screws or bolts 18, resil-' ient curved scraper members 19 adapted to engage with and scrape over or along the top and bottom edges of the boxes or frames of the sections. In order that these scraper rangement that the boxes or frames of the sections may enter and pass between them by flexing them due to their resiliency, spacers 20 of a width less than the height of the sides of the sections are provided, against which the free scraping ends of the members 19 abut in spaced relation. Fixed to the base member 17 are bolts 21, preferably arranged centrally vertically of the base member 17. These bolts pass freely through the uprights 4 as do the bolts 11, andbetween the base members 17 and the uprights 4, and surrounding the bolts 21 are springs 22 which resiliently force the base members 17, and consequently the scraper members 19 into proper relative scraping position to the boxes or frames of the honeycomb sectlons. Lateral movement of the base members 17 and the scrapers carried thereby may be adjustably limited by means of nuts bility of the scraper members 19, their scraping ends or edges will readily enter and clean out any propolis and wax which may have accumulated in the bee-ways cl of the section Moreover, this operation of the scrapers 19 will preclude the possibility of propolis and wax scrapedfrom the top and bottom edges of the frames from being deposited in the bee-ways.

In orderto convey or move the honeycomb sections through the machine so that they may be caused to engage with the various scraping devices, a travelling conveyor, which, as shown, may be of the chain and sprocket type, is provided in connection with each of the legs A and B of the machine. The conveyor of the leg A comprises a conveyor chain 22 mounted upon sprockets 23 and 24 of such diameter as to bring the chain substantially in a plane coincident with the upper surfaces of-the skids or ways 3, and which rotate with shafts25 and 26, respectively, mounted in suitable bearings carried by the base frame of the machine. The conveyor of the leg B comprises a conveyor chain 27 carried by sprockets 28 and 29, similar to the sprockets 23 and 24, which turn with shafts 30 and 31, respectively, also suitably mounted in bearings on the base frame of the machine.

Each of the conveyor chains 22 and 27 is provided with a plurality of conveyor lugs 32 which, as shown particularly in Figs. 5 and 6, are of substantially the same width as the overall width of the skids or ways 3 and 8,

and of a height preferably more than one half that of the frames ofthe honeycomb sections. By thus constructing these conveyor lugs, 1t

will be seen that a' good pushing bearing is provided against the frames of the sections so that they will be properly aligned relatively to the skids or ways 3 and Sand the scrapers of the machine.

As will be seen, particularly by an inspection of Figs. 3 and 4, the shaft 26 is so arranged that as the honeycomb frames a are pushed oil of the skids or ways 3 of the leg A, they will be pushed onto the skids or ways 3 of the leg B in proper alignment therewith and in proper relation to the central longitudinal axis of the leg B, soas to be in position to be picked up by the lugs 32 ofthe chain 27 and conveyed through the leg B to the discharge end of the machine.

In order that the honeycomb sections may not be pushed too far across the skids or ways 3 of the leg B by the lugs 32 of the chain 22", an abutment member 36 is provided, same being resiliently supported by means of bolts 37 and springs 38 upon upright members 39 attached to the frame members 1. I

The shaft 26 is the drive shaft, and extends the full length of the leg B, as shown. At one end it is provided with a pulley or other drive member 33, and at the other end with a bevel gear 34 which meshes with a mating bevel gear carried by the shaft 31. It will thus be seen that, due to this drive mechanism, whereby both of the conveyor chains 22 and .2? are driven from a single power source, both of these chains will be driven synchronously so that the movement of the honeycomb section frames will be substantially continuous throughout the two legs A and B of the machine.

In operation, the honeycomb sections as taken from the hive, with the ordinary accumulation of propolis and wax thereon, are introduced in succession at the end of the leg A adjacent to the sprocket 28 in such positionthat they rest upon the skids or ways 3. As the conveyor lugs 32 of the chain 22 progress in the direction of the arrow appearing at the le t of Fig. 3, the sections will be picked up in succession by these lugs and moved along the leg A. in contact with the skids or ways 3 thereof and held against vertical displacementby means of the yield ing engagement therewith of the skids or ways 8. As they are thus conveyed, their sides which lie longitudinally of the leg A will be scraped by the scraper knives 14 of the scraper units 7), Z) and c, c and the top and bottom edges of these sides, including the bee ways therein, will be scraped by the fiesible scraper members 19, and the propolis and wax thus removed from these sides and top and bottom edges including the bee-ways.

As the honeycomb sections are discharged from the leg A, they wil be pushed by the lugs 32 in engagement with them onto the ways 3 of the leg B, as previously described, and will be successively picked up by the lugs 32 of the chain 2. and conveyed longitudinally through the leg B of the machine. During this progress through the leg B, the sides of the section frames which, during their travel through the leg A, lie transversely of that leg, will now lie longitudinally of the leg B and the scraping units Z 6 and 0, 0 of the leg B will operate thereon to remove the propolis and wax therefrom, and similarly the scraper members 19 will remove the propolis and wax from the top and bottom edges and the bee-ways of these sides. Thus when the boxes or frames of the honeycomb sections are discharged from the end of the leg B, they will have been cleaned on all four of their sides and all eight of their top and bottom edges and be in marketable condition.

Various changes are deemed to be within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is 1. In a honey frame cleaning machine, means for cleaning the four sides of the frames, including scrapers arranged in spaced relation and bet-ween which the frames are moved to clean two oftheir sides, and other scrapers arranged at an angle to said firstmentioned scrapers also in spaced relation and between which the frames are moved to clean their other two sides.

2. In a honey frame cleaning machine, means for cle'aning the four sic es of the frames, including scrapers arranged in spaced relation and between which the frames are moved to clean two of their sides, other scrapers arranged at an angle to said first mentioned scrapers also in spaced relation are moved to clean two of their sides, other scrapers arranged at an angle to said firstmentioned scrapers also in spaced relation I and'between which the frames are moved to clean their other two sides, means for resiliently supporting said scrapers in yielding scraping engagement with the sides of said frames, means for moving said frames in one direction between said first-mentioned scrapers, and means for moving said frames in a direction at an angle to their first direction and etween said second-mentioned scrapers.

4. In a honey frame cleaning machine, means for cleaning the four sides of the frames, including scrapers arranged in spaced relation and between which the frames are moved to clean two of their sides, other scrapers arranged at an angle to said first-mentioned scrapers also in spaced relation and between which the frames are moved to clean their other two sides, and means associated with said first and last-mentioned scrapers, respectively, for scraping the top and bottom edges of the sides of said frames.

5. In a honey frame cleaning machine, means for cleaning the four sides of the frames, including scrapers arranged in spaced relation and between which the frames are moved to clean two of their sides, other scrapers arranged at an angle to said first-mentioned scrapers also in spaced relation and between which the frames are moved to clean their other two sides, and flexible means associated with said first and lastmentioned scrapers, respectively, for scraping the top and bottom edges of the sides of said frames, the flexibility of said means male ing it possible for them to enter and clean the bee-ways of said frames.

6. In a honey frame cleaning machine, a base frame having two legs arranged substantially at right angles to each other in L shape, skids carried by both legs of said base frame and adapted to slidingly support the honey frames, a bridge frame carried by said base frame, skids complemental to the firstmentioned skids yieldingly supported by said ridge frame above the first mentioned skids and adapted to engage the tops of the honey frames and hold them in sliding engagement with the first-mentioned skids, means for propelling said frames longitudinally of one leg and then of the other leg of the base frame between said skids, and scrapers arranged in juxtaposition along said legs and flanking said skids in spaced relation for scraping propolis and wax from the four sides and the top and bottom edges of the sides of the honey frames.

7; In a honey frame cleaning machine, a base frame having two legs arranged substantially at rightangles to each other in L shape, skids carried by both legs of said base frame and adapted to sli'dingly support the honey frames, a bridge frame carried by said base frame, skids complemental to the firstmentioned skids yieldingly supported by said b idge frame above said first-mentioned skids and adapted to engage the tops of the honey frames and hold them in sliding engagement with the first-mentioned skids, means including synchronously driven travelling conveyors for propelling said honey frames longitudinally of one leg and then of the other leg of the base frame between said skids, and yieldingly mounted scrapers arranged in juxtaposition along said legs and flanking said skids in spaced relation for scraping propolis and wax from the four sides and the top and bottom edges of the sides of the honey frames.

8. In a honey frame cleaning machine, means for cleaning the sides of the frames,

said means including juxtaposed sets of scraper knives, the xnives of one set being arranged to clean one portion of said sides, and the knives of another set being arranged to clean the remaining portion of said sides, whereby inequalities and unevenness of the contours of the sides may be compensated for.

9. In a honey frame cleaning machine, means for cleaning the sides of the frames, said means including juxtaposed sets of scraper xnives, the knives of one set being arranged to clean one portion of said sides, andthe knives of another set being arranged to clean the remaining portion of said sides, whereby inequalities and unevenness of the contours of the sides may be compensated for, and means for resiliently supporting said sets of scraper knives in yielding engagement with said sides.

10. In a honey frame cleaning machine, means for cleaning the top and bottom edges of the sides of the frames, said means including flexible scrapers between which the sides of the frames are introduced, and means for normally holding the scraping edges of said scrapers in such relatively spaced relation that the sides of the frames may be readily introduced between them.

11. In a honey frame cleaning machine, means for cleaning the top and bottom edges of the sides of the frames, said means in cluding pairs of acutate flexible scrapers between which the sides of the frames are introduced, and means for normally holding the scraping edges of said scrapers in such 

